When the Giants offense takes the field looking to snap out of a month-long slump Sunday night, they will attempt to do so opposite a Packers defense they've had success against twice within the last calendar year. But this isn't the same Green Bay defense, and Victor Cruz knows that.

"I've seen some good things," the wide receiver said today at Eva's Village in his hometown of Paterson where he was donating over 5,000 cans of soup. "I've seen that they're playing inspired football. They're playing off of their offense. When their offense is doing well you can really see the defense really picking up and that's a good thing. We just got to make sure we capitalize off what we see on the film against their defense and see some of their weak points to try to just attack it the best we can."

Rookies usually tend to be weak points. And the Packers defense has plenty. Green Bay used the first six of their eight picks in April's draft on defensive players and at various points in Sunday's win over the Lions they had six rookies in on defense. Three members of the the secondary are rookies and a fourth is in his second year.

"Anytime you get any rookies on the field, obviously especially in the secondary, they become a target," Cruz said. "You know, we just want to go out there and win our routes, no matter who's out there, no matter what the case may be. We want to go out there and be able to win every route and catch the football."

The Packers ranked last in the NFL in total defense last season. They allowed 411.6 yards per game and though the formula consisting of a porous defense and explosive offense worked through the regular season – to the tune of a 15-1 record – it proved unsustainable in the postseason when the Giants knocked them out, 37-20, in the divisional round.

This season, Green Bay defense ranks 16th in the NFL at 343.9 yards per game – not exactly the cream of the crop, but more than enough to win with an offense led by Aaron Rodgers, which they have done for five straight games. And they've done it without veteran Charles Woodson (collarbone) for the last month and All-Pro linebacker Clay Matthews (hamstring) over the last two weeks.

Cruz will be looking to get snap out of his worst three-game stretch since breaking out last season. Over the last three games, Cruz has been held without a touchdown and just 10 catches for 116 yards.

"I understand I can only do but so much. I can only do something when the ball is thrown my way, I guess," Cruz said. "That's the only time I can make something happen. So I just got to make sure I'm still winning on my routes, winning and doing the right things when I'm out there on the field.

"But, you know, it was just a sense of keep going. I know everything's not going to go my way every game. I'm not going to have a 100-plus yards every game, I'm not going to have a touchdown every game. But I just want to continue to do the right things and staying positive and not sulking cause I'm not getting involved or whatever it is. I just want to stay positive and continue to be a safety valve for Eli [Manning] whenever he looks my way."

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Cruz said negotiations between his agent and the Giants remain at the same point they were at a few weeks ago.

"It's still the same as before," Cruz said. "It's a business. It's negotiating. It's going back and forth, discussing numbers, this, that and the third. So it's still a work in progress."

Cruz is in the last year of his rookie deal and is making $540,000 this season. He said he doesn't know if he and the teams will come to terms before the end of the season, but he'd like to have that happen. Cruz is set to become a restricted free agent after the season.

"I would like to," Cruz said of getting a contract done by the end of the season. "As a human being, I'd like to get it over with and get it done, but it's a business and it's going to take time until everything's right."

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Cruz was back at Eva's Village today, where he's annually visited around the Thanksgiving holiday since his rookie season, donating 5,000 Campbell's Chunky soup cans as the face of the brand.

"It means everything to me to come back and be a part of this and be a part of something special here in my hometown," Cruz said. "It's definitely a great feeling to be able to come back.

"I was here my rookie year and we did some things with the people," he continued. "I came back and I felt like I was part of home here. The president of Eva's Village was the former principal at Paterson Catholic High School so I felt like it was only right once I got the opportunity to do something that I'd come back here and do it in Paterson."